New system advice continued....

[Maxorator]

Case:Micro ATX Mini-Tower +300W PSU with tool free access (Black/Silver)

Motherboard: ASUS A7N8X-VM nVIDIA nGeForce4 (sma) with 10/100 Ethernet LAN

Processor: AMD Athlon XP (TM) 2400+ with Quantispeed Technology

Memory: 512Mb PC2700 DDR Memory 333MHz

Hard Drives: 80Gb Ultra Fast with 2Mb Buffer (7200rpm)

Video Card: 128MB nVIDIA GeForce FX 5600

Monitor: 18'' NEC 1860NX TFT Flat Panel - DVI & Analogue

Optical Drives: 48x24x48x16 CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo Drive

Sound: Soundblaster compatible multi channel audio

Speakers: New Creative Labs Inspire 4400 - 4.1 Surround

Modem: 56kbps V92 Modem, featuring data and fax.

Keyboard & Mouse: Logitech Internet Keyboard & Optical Mouse (Black)

Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

Video Editing: Pinnacle Studio 8 SE (OEM)

Software: Microsoft Office XP PRO

Anti Virus Software: Symantec Norton Antivirus 2003 (oem)



Hi guys, I posted a topic a while back, asking for your opinions about this new system I’m buying. After some help, I came up with this final order. I have a few questions about this set-up, could somebody answer them?


1) What does (OEM) stand for?

2) What does (SMA) stand for?

3) I don’t think I have a standalone sound card in this new machine (the order form says – 5.1 SURROUND SOUND 6 CHANNEL AUDIO-(A78NX-VM)). I had to cut back the cost on something! Will this effect the way modern games will run on the machine? Do you think the sound set-up I have will be sufficient for running modern games?

4) This list includes most of the games I am interested in, (mainly FPS and strategy games) do you think I will have any problems running any of them?

Medal of Honour & Allied Assault Expansion
Black Hawk Down
Republic the Revolution
Half Life 2
Operation Flashpoint & Between the Lines Expansion
Tom Clancy’s Raven Shield
Mafia
Command & Conquer Generals
Black & White & Creature Isle Expansion
Rise of Nations
Sim City 4
Age of Mythology
Medieval Total War & Viking Invasion
Praetorians
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos & The Frozen Throne Expansion Pack
Port Royale

5) Most modern games require the computer components to be Direct X 0.9 compatible, are these components Direct X 0.9 compatible? When you buy new games don’t they come with the latest version of Direct X on them?

6) Will the integrated video card on the motherboard be used now that I have ordered a standalone video card, or does it become redundant? It seems like a waste if it doesn’t get used!

7) What do you think of the 128MB nVIDIA GeForce FX 5600? Will it run modern games?

I’m looking for a relatively good performance on most of the games, I’m not a major games player but would still like a medium to high standard of performance.

That’s all my questions for now! I will be very grateful for any responses, sorry about the length of the post!

[pave_spectre]

1) OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer. Products sold as OEM must normally only be purchased with new hardware such as hard drives or motherboards.

2)SMA = possibly Shared Memory Access since it refers to onboard video.

3) Current onboard audio particularly the surround stuff is reputed to be as good as stand-alone cards these days so it should be plenty.

6)With both onboard and a stand alone video you will probably have to go int BIOS and disable the onboard so you dont run into trouble. Even if onboard video is used its usually a complete waste if you will be using it for gaming.

As for the rest someone else can probably better answer those.(and probably number 2)

[BigBlue66]

Yeah, stay away from onboard video if you want to play games.

That Geforce card you're inquiring about will indeed run the latest games.

With the Geforce line of cards, any card after and including the FX series will support DX9. Yes, new games coming out will have DX9 on the driver CD.

[Deagle]

I would get a bigger case since the one that you've chosen is a micro ATX. Also a bigger Powersupply, and Bigblue can explain that.;)
PEACE:D

[saphalline]

4) Only Half-Life 2 comes close to bringing your system to its knees. But that's no surprise since it uses the latest visual technologies!

5) Yes most new games come with at least the minimum version of Direct X that they need, but it's still advisable to download the latest versions from the internet. I see that you've included a modem which means you have dial-up internet? If so, those downloads could take awhile! :eek:

6) Get the regular Asus A7N8X (non-"VM") to save some money. With a separate AGP video card, the onboard video will be a waste of money.

7) Yes, the FX 5600 will run modern games. Not as good as the high-end cards, but they're twice as expensive so you get what you pay for.

Now I'm going to make some component recommendations.

Get the AthlonXP "Barton" 2500+, it has a slightly more advanced CPU core than the older "T-bred" core (which is what the 2400+ uses).

Also, I've heard that the Creative Labs Inspire series of speakers aren't very good. I recommend the Logitech Z-640's. About the same price and a rock-solid positive feedback from everyone I've heard talk about them.

That's all I got for now...

[malcore]

I will second both Deagle's and saphalline's comments.

Get the regular A7N8X. But also get a regular ATX case, not micro ATX. The A7N8X-VM is a micro ATX board, the regular isn't.

[Maxorator]

Thanks for all the help guys!

I have inquired about getting a board without integrated graphics, but I don't have that as an option. I have been told they will make the onboard-integrated video memory redundant once the new standalone AGP graphics card goes in.

Thanks for the advice about speakers <b>saphalline</b>, I’m not to bothered about sound, just visual interest me, so I think I’ll stick to what I got!

I'm not sure why you advice me to get a big case and power supply, <b>Deagle</b>,<b>malcore</b>?

[Mr Clark]

The video card you want is a good card, but the radeon 9500pro (if you can find one is good) if you have the money, the 9700pro is an excellent choice performance wise it is not much under the new flagship from ATi (9800pro) Direct x 8 is what most current games run on and soon the direct x 9 will be out, you can still play them with a direct x 8 card, you just will not have the same apperance. PS all the cards mentioned here and the nvidia card you are looking at are all direct x 9 compatible. also look on some forum boards about nvidia, they have had some driver issues with that series of cards. Though the new 5900 ultra (NV35) chipset is supposed to be an excellent card. Pricey though

[Mr Clark]

another thing, not sure but i thought you had mentioned playing on line, the dial up will not do to well. If you really want to play on line and enjoy it. you need highspeed internet. Most servers will auto kick if you are above 200 or 250 ping to the server.

[Budfred]

The bigger case is because you will be very limited in ability to expand if you go with a microATX case and you won't have a lot of room to expand. If you do manage to find the other board that people are recommending, for instance, you will not be able to fit it in the case.

The power supply may be okay if it is a high quality power supply. Often the power supply that comes with a case is barely functional (sometimes not even that). You can find out a great deal about power supplies HERE. (http://members.shaw.ca/need4speed/Power%20Supply%20Choices.htm) This ARTICLE (http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/20021021/index.html) reviews different brands.

Also, where are you planning to buy your stuff that they don't have that other Asus board???

[Maxorator]

Thanks for the info on video cards <B>Mr Clark</b>. I haven’t made up my mind whether or not to change to the Radeon 9500pro, I’m pretty much spent up right now!

<b>Budfred</b> I read the article about power supply and asked the guys at Mesh what they thought. They said I could upgrade to +360W PSU if I like, but that’s another £35 (about $45). Is it really needed, won’t 300W PSU power my machine? I’m sure they won’t sell me a machine that isn’t powered properly! It will be going straight back if it isn’t!

The other info you gave me about upgrading has interested me. I tried to buy a machine that would stay future proof for as long as possible. I don’t really want to keep upgrading the system until I really have to, that’s why I have chosen the cheaper, smaller, case.

You asked where I was getting my machine from; I’m getting it from a company in England called Mesh computers. Does anybody in UK have an opinion on Mesh computers? They seem like a reputable firm, with the cheapest prices I have seen. Some of the computer mags give them good reviews. <a href="http://www.meshplc.co.uk/">Link to Mesh's website</a>

[Budfred]

I am afraid I don't know anything about Mesh Computers, but it does sound like they are offering to overcharge you for the privilege of getting a slightly more powerful power supply. Depending on the brand, you can buy a larger power supply over here for the same money and that doesn't include the fact that you are trading in the 300 watt power supply in the process. Unless that 300 watt is a piece of garbage and they are replacing it with something like an Antec Truepower, it doesn't look like a good deal to me.

[Mr Clark]

nothing worse than getting everything in and ready to power up and blahhhhhh nothing happens or other issues, after many hours of fiddiling and posting on boards calling product support, turns out to be your power supply. for me 350 is minimum. I have good luck with antec power supply, mid range price.